ACT-SO
ACT-SO is rooted in the firm conviction that African-Americans can succeed and compete at the same or superior level as their counterparts in classrooms, boardrooms and laboratories across this nation and abroad. The objective of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize and reward African-American youth who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence. Gold winners may compete at the ACT-SO National Competition held at the NAACP’s Convention held each July.
Benefits of Participation
ACT-SO is a learning experience that focuses on achievement, mentorship, and enrichment. The local competition showcases the hard work and academic and artistic talents of the students. Students receive support from mentors and develop the skills and tools for goal setting, self-confidence, presentation skills, and more. This program gives students the opportunity to positively impact their communities and society. It also provides the community an opportunity to work with and recognize the “leaders of tomorrow!”
ACT-SO at a Glance
OBJECTIVES
ACT-SO was designed to stimulate, promote and encourage high academic and artistic achievement among African American high school students. In short, we will "act so" that academic and artistic achievers receive great recognition. ACT-SO recognizes that while gold, silver and bronze medals are effective incentives to excellence, awards are not the primary goal. Rather, our vision centers around the mobilization of adults in our communities for the continuous promotion of academic and artistic excellence among African American students. We urge all NAACP units to reach out and recruit volunteers to serve as year-long instructors, coaches, teaches, and most importantly role models for our youth in all of the categories in this program.COMPETITIONS
NAACP branches across the country conduct annual local ACT-SO competitions through April. Contact your NAACP branch or the National ACT-SO Director as soon as possible to locate the program in your area and to verify the categories available in that local competition. All categories are not necessarily available in every local competition. If there is no program in your city or town, you may compete in the competition closest to your hometown. all Youth participating in the National ACT-SO competition must:- Be first place winners in the local ACT-SO competition. Note: Any first place winner must meet the scoring requirements and submit all required materials, on or before the date designated by the National ACT-SO Office.
- Compete with the same performance and/or project used at the local level.
- Be available to compete at the National Competition in order to remain eligible for all local NAACP ACT-SO monetary prizes and awards.
For more information about ACT-SO, go to https://www.naacp.org/act-so/
Student can select up to 3 competitions from a total of 32 offerings.
The local NAACP ACT-SO Committee is responsible for conducting the local competitions.
- conducting planning meetings
- recruiting sponsors and other community support
- recruiting students and mentors in the fall
- assisting coaches and students in the development of projects that are competitive and will benefit our youth
- selecting qualified judges for the local competition
- organizing the local competition event
- and overseeing the winners’ submission to and participation in the national competition
If you are interested in volunteering on a local ACT-SO committee, you may contact Montgomery County ACT-SO Coordinator Ms. Pat Price: email: actsomc@gmail.com, phone: 301-587-1722.
Coaches
Coaches may be teachers, parents, university professors, professionals, or any person
with expertise in one of the competition area listed in these guidelines. Coaches
need to be willing to devote at least one hour per week to guiding, advising and supporting
their students’ efforts.
Judges
Judges are degreed professionals or employed professionals in the category that they
are judging. Judges are responsible for selecting the best among the submissions in
accordance with the judging criteria. Local judges may not serve as judges at the
National Competitions.
Students
Students are, of course, the very heart of ACT-SO. They must strictly follow the criteria
explained in the guidelines. Every participant is encouraged to become an NAACP youth
member.
Sponsors
Sponsors provide financial and equipment resources, as well as human resources to
lend technical expertise during the local and national competitions.
If there is no liaison listed for your school, please contact Ms. Pat Price by email at actsomc@gmail.com or call 301-587-1722.
ACT-SO Liaisons for MCPS High Schools
| HIGH SCHOOL | ACT-SO LIAISON | POSITION TITLE/CONTACT # |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Programs | Ms. Teresa Sikora | Teacher, 240-279-4920 |
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase | Mr. Sharif Robinson | Assistant Principal, 240-497-6300 |
| Montgomery Blair | Mrs. Darlene Harris | Assistant Principal, 301-649-2800 |
| James Hubert Blake | Mr. Omari Daniel | Teacher, 301-879-1300 |
| Winston Churchill | Ms. Brandi Richardson | Assistant School Administrator, 301-469-1200 |
| Clarksburg | Ms. Cintonya Somerville | Career Information Coordinator, 301-444-3000 |
| Damascus | Mr. Edward Martin | Career Information Coordinator, 301-253-7030 |
| Albert Einstein | Ms. Nakeisha Roland | Teacher, 301-929-2200 |
| Gaithersburg | Mrs. Dyan Harrison | Assistant Principal, 301-840-4700 |
| Walter Johnson | Mr. Micah Wiggins | Assistant Principal, 301-803-7100 |
| John F. Kennedy | Ms. Carol Fernandez | Assistant School Administrator, 301-929-2100 |
| Col. Zadok Magruder |
Mrs. Jane Cocker Mr. Donald Wharton |
Teacher, Career Preparation, 301-840-4600 Teacher, Career Support, 301-840-4600 |
| Richard Montgomery | Ms. Mary Hull | Career Information Coordinator, 301-610-8000 |
| Northwest | Mrs. Lilly Greenlee | Media Services Technician, 301-601-4660 |
| Northwood | Mr. Delmar Padgett | Student Support Specialist, 301-649-8088 |
| Paint Branch | Ms. Katherine Brown | Counselor, 301-989-5600 |
| Poolesville | Mrs. Jacky Orrence | Assistant Principal, 301-972-7900 |
| Quince Orchard | Mrs. Carla McNeal | Assistant School Administrator, 301-840-4686 |
| Rockville | Ms. Janet Harris | Career Information Coordinator, 301-517-8105 |
| Seneca Valley | Ms. Elizabeth Bell | Career Preparation Teacher, 301-353-8000 |
| Sherwood | Dr. Kathlyn Carroll | Assistant Principal, 301-924-3200 |
| Springbrook | Ms. Mechande Manning | Special Education Paraeducator, 301-989-5700 |
| Watkins Mill | Mr. Rodney Long | Teacher, 301-840-3959 |
| Wheaton | Mrs. Cynthia Hammond Davis | Career Information Coordinator, 301-929-2050 |
| Walt Whitman | Mr. Jerome Easton | Assistant Principal, 301-320-6600 |
| Thomas S. Wootton | Ms. Lynda Hitchcock | Career Information Coordinator, 301-279-8550 |
The 2021 competitions will be held virtually, via Zoom sessions on April 17, 18, 24, and 25. Information to access the sessions will be sent to the students who are competing. Please be sure to submit your applications to actsomc@gmail.com
In order to ensure a safe environment for our contestants, we request that you carefully review the NAACP ACT-SO Safety Procedures listed below. The NAACP ACT-SO Program prohibits the use of the following materials for display.
- Living organisms (ex., plants, animals, and microbes)
- Dried plant materials (taxidermy specimens or parts)
- Human/animal foods, human/animal parts or bodily fluids (e.g. blood, urine. Note: dried animal bones, histological dry mount section, wet mount tissue slides, teeth, hair, and nails are acceptable).
- Soil or waste samples
- Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals (inclusive of embryos)
- Laboratory chemicals, including water
- Dry ice or other sublimating solids (i.e. solids which vaporize to a gas without passing through a liquid phase)
- Poisons, drugs, controlled substance, hazardous substances or devices (i.e. firearms, ammunition, or reloading devices)
- Sharp items (syringes, needles, or pipettes)
- Flames or highly flammable display materials which vaporize to a gas without passing through a liquid phase
- Batteries with open top cells